More Great Advice

Advice is everywhere, and — let’s be honest — it’s not always helpful. Try this, do that, only think about this and so on. But when advice comes from the right person at the right time and in the right situation, the sentiment can be powerful. We asked students at St. Edward’s to share the best advice they’ve gotten from their professors. Here’s just some of what we heard.

Understand your audience to give them what they need.

Student: Kayla Larson ’15, Spanish and Education

Mentor: Georgia Seminet, assistant professor of Spanish

The backstory: Larson hopes to become a foreign language teacher, but pulling together lesson plans that include everything from listening comprehension to speaking to writing can be daunting. Larson says that Seminet has stepped in to help her put the pieces of the puzzle together. “Sometimes my lesson plans have missed some important aspect,” explains Larson. “For a Spanish class, I did a lesson where the students played Pictionary to learn vocabulary words. I didn’t realize that only playing Pictionary wasn’t necessarily the best use of time until she pointed it out — she told me it’s important to work in multiple activities into each lesson for students to use multiple aspects of the language each class period.”

The value of mentors: The impact of great mentors ripples outward. “All of the future students [who] I teach will benefit from this mentorship because it helped me become a better teacher,” she says.

Don’t let dollar signs dictate your academic path.

Student: Kiellor Conn ’13, Kinesiology (Pre-Physical Therapy)

Mentor: Kristy Ballard, assistant professor of Kinesiology

The backstory: Throughout his education, Conn considered careers that would allow him to enter the workforce right after graduation. But he had the nagging feeling he wouldn’t enjoy any of them. Ballard nudged him to think beyond an immediate salary. “She [advised me] to choose what I enjoy most, with the idea that the finances and job opportunities will all work out in time,” he says. Thanks to her advice, he’s pursuing a path that has long inspired him: physical therapy. Though the career requires an extra three years of school beyond an undergraduate degree, he knows he’s making a choice he won’t regret later. “I know that by waiting, I will be happier and will enjoy what I am doing,” he says.

The value of mentors: They can help unlock big opportunities. “[Ballard has given me] recommendations for scholarships and references for job openings,” says Conn — which in turn can help bring him closer to his big goals.

Lessons Worth Learning

These MBA students plan to avoid common missteps in the business world by following the advice of their tried-and-tested professors. Hear the practical advice they’re learning from professors.